§11
I never forgot this incident. Nine years later I was in Petersburg for the last time; I had to visit the Home Office to arrange about a passport. While I was talking to the secretary in charge, a gentleman walked through the room, distributing friendly handshakes to the magnates of the office and condescending bows to the lesser lights. “Hang it! it can’t surely be him!” I thought. “Who is that?” I asked.
“His name is Lazarev; he is specially employed by the Minister and is a great man here.”
“Did he serve once as inspector in the Government of Vyatka?”
“He did.”
“I congratulate you, gentlemen! Nine years ago that man kissed my hand!”
It must be allowed that the Minister knew how to choose his subordinates.